Defensive line....concerns...or not?

[Simbahawk4]

Since the shortage is space-eaters, I wonder if they try to get Pittman ready.

Nice call! Even though he’s a freshman he appears from pic’s too look physically ready..if he has the attitude to keep grinding he actually could help this yr! He’s listed at 6,2 305..with good weight on the hoofs!

 

[GoUIowa]

he looks ready in the practice photos.

But Nebraska always “looks” ready when they get off the bus.

 

[Hawkfan_08]

PP probably wishes he had held on to Linderbaum at DT as he watches him decimate DTs instead.

Might be a season where early on the offense has to put up a lot of points while Phil is forced to gamble to get his guys off the field.

Time to go old school and play both ways!

Not serious but if anyone could do it, it's probably him.

 

[NevadaHawk]

Maybe Linderbaum could be a two-way guy and get 10-15 snaps a game at DT, especially in the first couple of games.

I doubt KF would green light that idea unless we had a bunch of injuries along the DL.

 

[Obviously Oblivious]

A few comments ...

• The DL likely would have been further along had injuries (particularly in the spring - and prior) not slowed the development of guys like Lee and Black [among others]
• VanValkenburg has the single largest number of starts
• Evans and Shannon each have a good bit of back-up experience
• Waggs is oddly a veteran ... but he's really seen shockingly little playing time [injuries through his career has hampered BOTH his amount of playing time AND his development]

Given the overall experience-level of the group ... they're definitely one of the larger concerns on the squad. Particularly since our run D will be highly dependent upon how clean the DL can keep our LBs. I don't care how big of a superman folks expect Campbell to be ... if O-linemen are draped all over him ... his effectiveness WILL get limited.

The GOOD NEWS is that the DL is a group that has the OPPORTUNITY to improve at a rate that is greater than most of the other position groups. If you're lower on the learning curve ... you have the opportunity to ascend it! However, that also means that while other position groups will be refining things and honing their craft ... the DL will still be learning on the job! That's a recipe for some UPs and DOWNs (i.e. inconsistency).

Given the status of the DL ... I expect that the Hawk D will start off being a little better than marginal. However, I think that the defensive unit has the capacity of developing into a pretty elite unit by the end of the season. However, that will rely upon them truly embracing having a "growth mindset" ... and it also relies upon them being adequately healthy.

It's worth noting that the offense put up pretty nice numbers last season - scoring over 30 points per game ... and that's despite having a much maligned QB. Apart from at OT ... we're looking at an offense that really could be pretty good. We rarely can say that about our Hawk O.

Lastly, we have our secret weapon! Tory Taylor is a freaking hero ... look for him to be a team MVP! His leg is the difference between Ws and Ls for this team!

Punting is winning!

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Unfortunately, I think this DL is more akin to 2013 or 2014, which was good.....but not at the level we needed to get over the proverbial hump.

The OL, I think, will surprise ala 2015.

It's gonna fall on the slow development of the DL to determine whether this is anything more than a 7 win team, and I am being serious about that.

We really don't have the talent some think we do compared to our opponents to overcome DL growing pains.




So hopefully they can figure it all out in the next 2-3 weeks!!!

 

[Johnsoda123]

A few comments ...

• The DL likely would have been further along had injuries (particularly in the spring - and prior) not slowed the development of guys like Lee and Black [among others]
• VanValkenburg has the single largest number of starts
• Evans and Shannon each have a good bit of back-up experience
• Waggs is oddly a veteran ... but he's really seen shockingly little playing time [injuries through his career has hampered BOTH his amount of playing time AND his development]

Given the overall experience-level of the group ... they're definitely one of the larger concerns on the squad. Particularly since our run D will be highly dependent upon how clean the DL can keep our LBs. I don't care how big of a superman folks expect Campbell to be ... if O-linemen are draped all over him ... his effectiveness WILL get limited.

The GOOD NEWS is that the DL is a group that has the OPPORTUNITY to improve at a rate that is greater than most of the other position groups. If you're lower on the learning curve ... you have the opportunity to ascend it! However, that also means that while other position groups will be refining things and honing their craft ... the DL will still be learning on the job! That's a recipe for some UPs and DOWNs (i.e. inconsistency).

Given the status of the DL ... I expect that the Hawk D will start off being a little better than marginal. However, I think that the defensive unit has the capacity of developing into a pretty elite unit by the end of the season. However, that will rely upon them truly embracing having a "growth mindset" ... and it also relies upon them being adequately healthy.

It's worth noting that the offense put up pretty nice numbers last season - scoring over 30 points per game ... and that's despite having a much maligned QB. Apart from at OT ... we're looking at an offense that really could be pretty good. We rarely can say that about our Hawk O.

Lastly, we have our secret weapon! Tory Taylor is a freaking hero ... look for him to be a team MVP! His leg is the difference between Ws and Ls for this team!

Ghost. Testify. I was there when Reggie Roby, a punter, tilted the field. He changed the game in the favor of the Hawks. Taylor might be the difference in one game and I am hoping two.

 

[*Knockout*Ned*]

Unfortunately, I think this DL is more akin to 2013 or 2014, which was good.....but not at the level we needed to get over the proverbial hump.

If this back 7 has a line in front of it that can play at the same level as Drew Ott, Carl Davis, Louis Trinca-Pasat and Dominic Alvis, then the defense will be outstanding.

 

[MitchLL]

In Parker we trust.

 

[millhawk]

Our dt's have to go against our interior ol guys (which happen to be among the best in the Big) every day. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. It's important Black and Shannon stay healthy and we have to rotate guys in there to keep them fresh. What worries me is the lack of size behind those two.

 

[Pat McGroyne]

But Nebraska always “looks” ready when they get off the bus.

What is between the ears can't be seen. Or what's not there, in their case.

 

[oldnewkirk.0]

Isaiah Bruce is going to become a standout soon. How long is Logan Jones out?

I've also been wondering about Logan Jones status. I was very excited when he signed with the Hawks. High energy guy who plays with a mean streak, reminded me of a Matt Roth type player. I thought I also read somewhere that he was already moving up the ranks of the weight lifting records at Iowa.

 

[INXS83]

I've also been wondering about Logan Jones status. I was very excited when he signed with the Hawks. High energy guy who plays with a mean streak, reminded me of a Matt Roth type player. I thought I also read somewhere that he was already moving up the ranks of the weight lifting records at Iowa.

Reports I've heard are they are hoping he returns sometime during the season. Don't count on him playing much this fall.

 

[David1979]

I think the interior is the biggest concern because of depth. They need Shannon, Lee and Black to all stay pretty healthy. Waggoner and Craig can help on the inside as well.

 

[littlez]

This might be the best back 7 we've possibly ever had under Kirk. Yes, it's a little worrisome about the lack of experience at DT, but as other have mentioned we have a B1G first teamer at D-end, and unless Shannon and Black are just flops (very unlikely) I think we have a top 3 defense in the conference.

 

[perryhawk]

This might be the best back 7 we've possibly ever had under Kirk. Yes, it's a little worrisome about the lack of experience at DT, but as other have mentioned we have a B1G first teamer at D-end, and unless Shannon and Black are just flops (very unlikely) I think we have a top 3 defense in the conference.

I hope you are right....my concern is that, other than our returning D end.....we could get pushed around and beat down over the course of the season. Worst case scenario Indiana and ISU push us around and we can't keep the oline off of our LBs......then as the season goes on we get a few injuries in that tackle/DE group....and suddenly we are in serious trouble. I hope that doesn't happen....I hope I am wasting my time worrying. Can't wait for the first game to see how we hold up.

 

[Rustys Dad]

I think I would be more concerned about the DLine if we had an inexperienced back 7.

While some of the DLine may lack game experience, several of the players have been in our system for several years and have gone up against some outstanding OLinemen in practice.

We may have a few hiccups in the early games (I know, we can’t afford too many hiccups in first two games) but I expect the defense to continue to gel and will be a solid unit throughout the year.

 

[David1979]

Unfortunately, I think this DL is more akin to 2013 or 2014, which was good.....but not at the level we needed to get over the proverbial hump.

The OL, I think, will surprise ala 2015.

It's gonna fall on the slow development of the DL to determine whether this is anything more than a 7 win team, and I am being serious about that.

We really don't have the talent some think we do compared to our opponents to overcome DL growing pains.




So hopefully they can figure it all out in the next 2-3 weeks!!!

I think the DEs are fine it is the DTs I am worried about. But then again, KF said that in practice they were holding their own and the kids day was an aberration and a lot of the really big plays came against 2nd and 3rd teamers.

 

[Greenway4Prez]

I hope you are right....my concern is that, other than our returning D end.....we could get pushed around and beat down over the course of the season. Worst case scenario Indiana and ISU push us around and we can't keep the oline off of our LBs......then as the season goes on we get a few injuries in that tackle/DE group....and suddenly we are in serious trouble. I hope that doesn't happen....I hope I am wasting my time worrying. Can't wait for the first game to see how we hold up.

I think we’ll be good against Indiana. They were atrocious running the ball last year, and the OL just isn’t very good.

ISU and Wisconsin though, that’s another story.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

I think we’ll be good against Indiana. They were atrocious running the ball last year, and the OL just isn’t very good.

ISU and Wisconsin though, that’s another story.

Well, if nothing else, it'll be good that we'll need to come out of the gates firing or risk looking at an 0-2 start again........